By Bridget Carlson, Harker Heights Evening Star Approximately 50 acres burned early Monday morning at Dana Peak Park. Crews were dispatched around 3:30 a.m. to Dana Peak Park for a possible structure fire. Once crews arrived they determined there was no structure fire but noticed a large brush fire at the park, which is owned […]

By Bridget Carlson, Harker Heights Evening Star Approximately 50 acres burned early Monday morning at Dana Peak Park. Crews were dispatched around 3:30 a.m. to Dana Peak Park for a possible structure fire. Once crews arrived they determined there was no structure fire but noticed a large brush fire at the park, which is owned […]

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By Bridget Carlson, Harker Heights Evening Star

Approximately 50 acres burned early Monday morning at Dana Peak Park.

Crews were dispatched around 3:30 a.m. to Dana Peak Park for a possible structure fire. Once crews arrived they determined there was no structure fire but noticed a large brush fire at the park, which is owned by the Army Corps of Engineer’s.

“Upon arrival, responding units found no structure on fire, but a significant amount of fire involving brush and vegetation,” said Harker Heights Fire Chief Jack Collier in a press release on Monday.

The West Side Strike Team, which consists of firefighters from Central Bell County Fire / Rescue, Killeen, Copperas Cove, Fort Hood, Harker Heights, Southwest Bell, and Stillhouse, was activated to help put out the fire.

“Incident command immediately asked for the West Side Strike Team to be dispatched to the scene”, said Collier in the press release.

Additional units from Belton, Moffat, Morgan’s Point, Temple, and the North Texas area, which included Fort Worth, Arlington, and Southlake, also responded to the fire for coverage.

The Texas A&M Forest Service responded with crews and bulldozers to help clear paths, as most of the fire was unreachable due to thick brush and trees.

Several blackhawk helicopters continually dumped water on the fire from the air and fire retardant was dumped by a DC 10 jet in order to help contain the fire.

There were no fire related injuries, however, one firefighter sustained bee stings when the bulldozer he was operating disturbed a beehive.

Scott & White arrived with their Rehab Bus, which provides air conditioning and water for fire service personnel during long fires, as well as The Salvation Army who arrived later that morning with their food truck to provide food and water to the firefighters and other responders on scene.

Despite there being several homes and subdivisions in the area, there was no damage to any homes, and none of the residents were evacuated during the fire.

“At no time were any houses threatened due to quick actions and favorable winds,” said Collier in Monday’s press release.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation but is believed to have possibly been started by an unattended campfire.

While the road leading to Dana Peak Park was closed Monday, the road is now open and the main hiking and biking trails are currently open for the public to enjoy.